SUNY Plattsburgh Students Conduct Watershed Research On the Boquet River

SUNY Plattsburgh Students Conduct Watershed Research On the Boquet River

August 18, 2009

Are you looking for the opportunity to do hands-on undergraduate research? At SUNY
Plattsburgh, students and faculty collaborate on projects that produce scientific
findings, real world applications and scholarly publications. One such research project
involves a two-year field survey by faculty and students of the Boquet River Watershed
in Northern New York.

The project along the 280-square mile Boquet River Watershed is funded by a $152,149
grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Dr. Meiyin Wu, associate professor of earth and environmental science, said the project would eventually
develop a wetland monitoring program and invasive species management plan for the
watershed.

A Model for Wetland Assessment

Comprehensive baseline data on hydrology and vegetation in the watershed was obtained
in order to provide reliable data on hydrological regime, species richness, abundance,
dominance, competition and spread of invasive plant species. The project will also
produce field monitoring protocols, a vegetation identification guide, an invasive
plant species field guide and a volunteer training DVD.

"This project can serve as a model and resource for other wetland assessment and watershed
groups in the Champlain-Adirondack Biosphere and across the nation," said Wu. "The
watershed project is an important step for the area with sparse population where comprehensive
wetland data is needed and agencies have limited staff."

Students Take to the Field

During the last two summers, students and staff set out five days a week, eight hours
a day, for three months hiking around the Boquet River Watershed. With the combined
efforts of Wu, former Boquet River Association lab director Dr. Dennis Kalma and Plattsburgh
State students Jannel Gabriel, Andy McMillan, Marc Morgenstern, Michael Praeger, Lou
Trotta and Sean Thomas, 468 sites in 40 wetlands were surveyed in 2005 and 2006.

"The students are the ones who deserve the credit, they worked so hard under harsh
field conditions" said Wu. "It was a very satisfying experience for me working with
people from both public and private sectors involved in the project. I particularly
like to thank the landowners of our sites who generously allowed us to use their land."

"One of the Best Experiences"

Praeger, a senior from Upper Jay, N.Y., has worked with Wu for the past three years.
He said he appreciated the opportunities for hands-on research that Wu has provided
her students.

"This was one of the best experiences I've had here at Plattsburgh State," said Praeger.

The faculty and student crew also inventoried invasive plant species on the study
sites. These invasive species are plants that were not originally from the area, but
came from other areas and grew in the Boquet River Watershed.

Due to lack of native enemies, these invaders often out-compete native flora and occupy
the natives' habitats. This project also enlisted volunteers who received training
on how to eradicate these noxious plants.

Morgenstern, a senior from Rochester, N.Y., thought it was great to be able to get
his feet wet in the field in which he wants to pursue a career.

Invasive species including purple loosestrife, common reed, tartarian honeysuckle
and common buckthorn have been located in the watershed.

Lights! Camera! Action!

The monitoring protocols developed by Wu, Kalma and earth and environmental science
students were filmed by students from the Communication Department
supervised by Christine Johnson, assistant professor of communication.

Jared Stanley and Marcel Longo filmed, edited and created the educational/instructional
DVD.

Stanley, a junior from Peru, N.Y., wants to produce documentaries on the environment
and hopes to one day work for National Geographic.

"This project was a great opportunity," said Stanley. "Dr. Wu is our client, and there
is a lot of responsibility involved."

Johnson, Stanley and Longo met with Wu and her students to devise a plan for the DVD.
Once a plan was drawn up, Stanley and Longo went out into the field to begin filming.

"The footage came out well, and I think the DVD will be a success," said Stanley.
"We are creating an instructional DVD, and I had to think in the mind frame that people
who know nothing about invasive species are going to be watching this DVD, so I didn't
want to misrepresent anything."